Business Gateway supports Circle Foundation to find Leicestershire’s next Disabled Entrepreneur

Leicester and Leicestershire Business Gateway is joining forces with local charity The Circle Foundation to help find and support a disabled entrepreneur with a winning business idea. The Business Gateway will provide a member of its Board to join the panel of judges as well as hours of support from its Business Adviser team and paid consultancy from an expert in the winning sector.

Local disabled entrepreneur, Mark Esho MBE, launched his new charity venture, ‘The Circle Foundation’ in February this year. The Circle Foundation will provide up to £50,000 worth of business support and mentoring from Mark for whichever disabled entrepreneur is judged to have a viable business idea. The search is currently on to find entrants to this unique competition.

When the Business Gateway read the story, they were keen to get involved and picked up the phone to Mark. In addition to the prizes from the Circle Foundation, the Business Gateway will provide up to five hours of support from their Business Advisers. If the successful entrepreneur needs sector specific support, the Business Gateway will fund six hours of consultant time. Finally, a member of the Business Gateway Board will sit on the judging panel when the time comes to choose a winner.

Mark Esho commented “We’re really delighted to have the Business Gateway working alongside us on this project. We are hoping that this additional support will ensure that the winning business idea really takes off and secures a sustainable future.”

Rachel York, Manager of the Business Gateway, added: “It’s important that ALL businesspeople know that we are here to support them, irrespective of their abilities, gender, ethnicity or sexuality. Getting involved with the Circle Foundation competition is one way of clearly demonstrating this and we are very happy to be involved.”